Refrigerating apparatus



March 14, 1961 w. F. THULL 2,975,012 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I l INVENTOR.

H15 ATTOR i,

March 14, 1961 w 1 2,975,012

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

BY M

27% H13 1477' NE) March 14, 1961 w. F. THULL 2,975,012

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 12, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Mes/c 77w!) BY v 8%gl H15 ATT RNEY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Wesley F. Thull, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General goltiors Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of e ware Filed Aug. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 833,287

6 Claims. Cl. 312-274 I This invention relates to refrigerating apparatuses and particularly to a refrigerator cabinet of such an apparatus. An object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement for rendering food products in a compartment of a refrigerator cabinet of a refrigerating apparatus readily accessible at the front of and exteriorly of the compartment by opening the compartment door.

Another object of my invention is to provide means in a refrigerator cabinet which utilizes the impetus and leverage of a vertically swingable compartment door for converting its movement into a force applied in a substantially straight line horizontal direction to a food support or food containing receptacle slidably supported in the compartment to slide it part way out of the compartment when the door is swung open and back thereinto when the door is swung closed.

A further object of my invention is to provide between a vertically swingable refrigerator cabinet door and a food support or receptacle slidably supported within a compartment in the cabinet closed by the door a linkage mechanism including a plurality of linksv arranged or pivotally interconnected togethr in a fashion to be moved and rotated relative to one another by the vertical swinging of the door for converting movements thereof into substantially straight line movements applied to the receptacle to slide some and prevent its binding on the supporting means therefor.

In carrying out the foregoing objects, it is a still fur- United States Patent C a 2 door in an inclined open position at the front of the cabinet; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 showing a stop means on the receptacle support for supporting the compartment door in the position thereof illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating 'my invention, there is shown in Figure 1 thereof a refrigerating apparatus in the form of a household refrigerator including a cabinet having a plurality of walls defining an upper unfrozen food storage compartment or chamber,

indicated by the dotted lines 11, a lower freezing or frozswingable door of the compartment which stop means limits the sliding movement of the receptacle outwardly of the compartment and causes a linkage mechanism interposed between the door and receptacle to support the door in a predetermined inclined open position at the front of the refrigerator cabinet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a cabinetof a refrigerating apparatus having my invention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing a food receptacle slidably supported on supports within a freezing or frozen food compartment of the refrigerator cabinet and connected by a linkage mechanism to the compartment door;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the compartment door partially swung open with the linkage with t e linkage mechanism supporting the compartment ing material disposed therebetween (see Figure 2).

on food storage compartment, indicated by the dotted lines 12, and a machine compartment 13 therebelow, indicated by the dotted line 14. The walls of compartment or chamber 11 and compartment 12 are, usually in the refrigerator cabinet art, formed by a metal box-like liner and outer shells or panels having a suitable insulat- Machine compartment '13 need not be insulated and is formed by extensions ofthe cabinet outer shells or panels. Both compartments 11 and 12 are provided with an access opening in the front of cabinet 10. An insulated cover or closure member 16 is hingedly mounted on cabinet 10, in any suitable or conventional manner, for horizontal swinging movement to provide access to compartment 11. A separate one-piece member. or door storage chamber 11 is refrigerated to a desired tempera-' ture above 32 F. by a plate-like refrigerant evaporator 21 of a closed refrigerating system associated with cabinet 10. Frozen food storage or freezing compartment 12 is refrigerated to a temperature far below 32 F. by another refrigerant evaporator 22, of the refrigerating system, in the form of a conduit coiled or wrapped around the metal liner of this compartment for the preservation of frozen foods or for freezing foods placed therein. Evaporators 21 and 22 are connected to one another by suitable pipes or conduits and are also connected by suitable pipes or conduits to a refrigerant translating device comprising a motor-compressor-condenser unit disposed or housed in the machine compartment 13 as is conventional in the art (see Figure 2). Operation of the refrigerating system may be controlled in any suitable or conventional manner to cause the evaporators thereof to maintain the desired temperatures in compartments 1'1 and 12. 7

Since compartment 12 is located in the lower portion of cabinet 10 and requires a person to stoop or squat to gain access to frozen food products stored'thereim'it is desirable to render these food products readily accessible at the front and exteriorly of the'cabinet. I therefore slidably support a frozen "food support, container or receptacle in the form of a'wire like basket' 26 within compartment12. In order to rollably or slidably support container or receptacle 26 in cjo mpartment "1 2 for extension outwardly thereof, I mayer pioy any one of a plurality of conventional or well kno ll,"sli1de or roll and slide supports for 'track s.'oneach. opposed side wall of the compartment; These .supporit'sfardincidental to the invention and may vary over a wid eiran g'c pe n a ms re so l n a re assbls of supporting the contents of receptacle 26 both within compartment 12 and when the receptacle is extended outwardly thereof. For reasons of simplifying the presnt i lus ra ion, re eren e isina e to the C- Pe tw z Patent Number 2;7'19,772 dated Qetober 4, 1955; show.- ing extensib e racks or supp s an d cl s g a st p mean fo imit n th outwar ex ion t e eo Th s p tent d sc o omb ned re ia l and slideble ppo and is fiiei nt for an und standin of he p e n nenti s n e e subject ma ter ther i n d pe d t po he u tural vd t ils o he recep pp By e r ing t Figu e of t e d awingse p f ro er se ed to oppos d up i h ell o mpa e t 12 ha u ed the eon th t acks o s ippo t illustrated n th et witz pa ent. The sl da le p r of t PP er d s lo ed orr spon ng to ha po n he Pe P t n and o pr es an longated in d s an a ly uhepe in c os -se eta mem r 1 de or otherwise rigidly ecured o when of ske or r ep 26 at opposed sides thereof. A stop or stop means 31A is bent down from reliable element 31B and engages a complementary stop or stop means 31C on member 31 when the supports are fully extended to the movement of receptacle 2.6 outwardly of compartment 12.

I provide means for connecting the rollable 0r slidable food support or basket receptacle 26 to the vertically swingable door 17 so that this receptacle is rolled o l d s ne usly w th he sw n in movemen of door 1 y e xtensi e suppor s pa ay u of ireezing compartment 12. The connecting means of'receptacle 26 with the vertically swingable door 17 is preferably in the form of a linkage mechanism comprising a plura y r se ies of lin s ar anged for m e difierentdirections relative, to one another so that the leverage operating energy exerted upon vertically swingable door 17 to open same will be converted into a force acting upon or applied to food support or receptacle 26 in a substantially straight line horizontal direction. In he Pre e disc o u e; h s connecting l nk e anisrn on each side of receptacle 26 includes a first arm or link 32 having its one end pivotally secured to cabinet 10, by a pin or stud 33, at the lower front part of compartment 12 with its other end pivotally attached, by a pin or stud 34, to an end of a second arm or link 36. One en of p r stud 3 P oiee s th u h he h t or col a P t on o h on p n ng o compa tm n 2 and has its other end rigidly secured to a wall part of cabinet inwardly thereof. The opposite end of second link 36 is p ly t ached, by a pi o stud to one end o a third rm or n 3 h ving i oth nd Pi otally attached, by a pin or stud 39, to a metal bracket 41 welded or securely mounted upon a side of receptacle or f o supp t 6. so as to conn ct he l kage mechanis o t ep acle A br ck r a m .3 ig d y mounted on door 17, and projecting inwardly from its inner face for swinging movement therewith, is pivotally connected to the second arm or link 36, by a pin or stud 44, intermediate its pivotally attached ends. Pin 44 forms the axis about which link 36 is rotated as will be hereinafter described. The construction and arrangement of arms or links 32, 36 and 38 together with their pivotal connections to one another and to receptacle 26 and door 17 affords a linkage mechanism wherein the links, when door 17 is vertically swung open, move or shift in ditierent directions relative to each other. This linkage shifting serves to convert the vertical swinging movements or motions of door 17 into a Substantially s a gh line horizon l orce h ch is ransm t through the linkage mechanism to food support or receptacle 26. Stud or pin 44 is secured to or bracket .43 in a predetermined spaced relation to the inner face or surface of door 17 by a reinforcing metal channel or the like and the second link 36'pivotally anchored to bracket .43 by pin 44 is adapted to have one of its ends passed through this space. Near the end of forward travel of food support, container or receptacle 26 outwardly of compartment 12 and just prior to the stop means 31A engaging stop 31C link 36 rotates about its axis, pin 44, and its end portion, pinned'by pin 34, passes between the inner face of door 17 and pin 44 to render the linkage mechanism effective for applying a force to support or receptacle 26 in a straight line horizontal direction when door 17 is mo ed toward closed posi ion. Th the p ent linkage mechanism applies a sliding force to support or r cep acle 26 substantially in a tr g t line h rizontal direction throughout the entire length of movements thereof outwardly of and back into compartment 12. It will be noted that hinge 18 provides a single axis for swinging pin 44 on the arm or bracket 43 thereof about a predetermined arc, indicated by the dot dash line 46 in the drawings, and that pin 33 securing link 32 to cabinet 10 provides an axis for swinging this link about a predetermined are, indicated by the dot dash line 47 in the drawings, which intersects or crosses the are 46 at 48 for a purpose to be hereinafter described;

Assume that door 17 is in its vertical closed position (see Figure 2) and the frozen food content of support or receptacle 26 is now desired to be rendered accessible at the front of cabinet 10. Handle 19 on door 17 is grasped by a hand of the user of refrigerator cabinet 10 and pulled forwardly to cause the door to pivot about hinge 18 whereby it swings vertically outward and downward with respect to the cabinet. This vertical swinging movement of one-piece door 17 causes bracket or arm 43 thereon to move forwardly in compartment 12 shifting pin 44 and consequently second link 36 along the arc 46. Link 36 rotates about pin 44 and pulls on the third link 38 to start the rolling or sliding of support or receptacle 26 outwardly of compartment 12 (see Figure 3). During swinging of door 17 open the lower or pinned end 37 of second link 36 is, by being tied to link 32, rotated while receptacle 26 is rolled or slid forwardly. Continued outward and downward swinging of door 17 causes the axis, pin 44, of link 36 to move along are 46 and to cross the are 47 at 48 (see Figures 3 and 4). Link 36 is, by moving across the are 47 of link 32 rotated about its axis, pin 44, approximately one-half a revolution so as to turn or reverse ends thereof tied to links 32 and 38 by the pins 34 and 37 respectively (see Figure 4). At this point in the vertical swinging of door 17 and sliding of receptacle 26 outwardly of compartment 12 stop 31A on the extendable receptacle supports, guide or track means engages the complementary stop 31C thereon to limit or prevent further outward sliding of the receptacle from the compartment. This stop means new causes the links of the linkage mechanisms to hold or support one-piece door 17 in a predetermined inclined open position at the front of cabinet 10, as shown in Figure 4 with support or receptacle 26 moved part way out of compartment 12 to render food products thereon or therein readily accessible at the front of cabinet 10. By the construction and arrangement of a linkage mechanism o r mechanisms as herein disclosed the vertical swinging motion of the refrigerator cabinet door is converted into a force applied to the slidable receptacle 26 in substantially a straight line horizontal direction. Since the weight of receptacle 26 and its frozen food content is supported by the extendable supports or tracks, door 17 is easily swung vertically open and shut and the linkage mechanismactuated by the impetus of movement thereof is utilized as a leverage means for sliding the receptacle. When door 17 is to be swung vertically closed or shut the energy applied thereto reacts against link 32 and is transmitted through links 36 and 38 for converting the vertical closing swinging movement of the door into a force acting on receptacle 26 in a substantially straight line horizontal direction to shift it back into supported position within compartment 12.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that I have provided a novel arrangement for moving a food support or receptacle in a lower compartment in a refrigerator cabinet to a readily accessible position at the front thereof by operation of the compartment door. By converting vertical swinging movements of a refrigerator cabinet door with a linkage mechanism of the character herein disclosed into a sliding movement of a food support or receptacle in a compartment closed by the door the force applied to the support or receptacle is at all times in a straight line substantially horizontal direction This is unique in that irrespective of the type of rollable or slidable supports employed to support a food receptacle within and to extend same outwardly of a cabinet compartment there is little likelihood of the receptacle binding on its supporting means. The leverage advantage obtained by my linkage mechanism renders opening as well as closing of the frozen food compartment door easy and the weight of food products on a food support or in a food receptacle moved by the door is only slightly noticeable upon swinging same. Also, the feature of limiting outward sliding of the food receptacle whereby the linkage mechanism supports the compartment door in a predetermined inclined open position eliminates the user stooping and reaching to the floor to get a hold of the door to swing it closed.

While the embodiments of the invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

=1. In combination, a cabinet having a compartment therein provided with a front opening, a door hingedly mounted on said cabinet for vertical swinging movement with respect thereto normally closing the compartment front opening, a food storage receptacle slidably supported within said compartment, means connecting said receptacle to said door for movement therewith part way out of said compartment upon swinging said door open and back thereinto upon swinging the door closed, said means comprising a linkage mechanism including a first link having a portion thereof pivotally secured to said cabinet and another portion pivotally attached to an end of a second link, the opposite end of said second link being pivotally attached to an end of a third link having its other end pivotally secured to said receptacle, said second link being pivotally anchored intermediate its ends to said door at a point thereon spaced a predetermined distance from the inner face thereof, said links being movable by movement of said door and said second link being rotatable relative thereto to pass an end of the second link through the space between its anchorage point and said inner door face whereby said mechanism converts the vertical swinging motion of said door into a force applied to said receptacle substantially in a straight line horizontal direction throughout the entire length of sliding movements of the receptacle.

2. The combination defined by claim 1 wherein a means is provided for limiting sliding of the receptacle outwardly of the compartment to stop vertical opening swinging movement of the door whereby the linkage mechanism supports said door in a predetermined inclined open position.

3. In combination, a cabinet having a compartment therein provided with a front opening, a door mounted on said cabinet for vertical swinging movement with respect thereto normally closing the compartment front opening, a food support slidably supported within said compartment, a linkage mechanism connecting said food support to said door for movement therewith part way out of said compartment through its front opening upon swinging said door open and back thereinto upon swinging the door closed, said mechanism including a first link having its lower end pivotally secured to said cabinet adjacent the bottom front portion of said compartment, a second link, a third link having one end thereof pivotally secured to the rear portion of said food support above said lower end of said first link, the ends of said second link being pivotally attached to the end of said tfirst and said third links opposite the ends thereof secured to said cabinet and said food support respectively, and means pivotally anchoring a portion of said second link intermediate its said ends to said door whereby swinging movements of the door are converted by said linkage mechanism into forces acting in a substantially straight line horizontal direction on said food support to cause the sliding thereof.

4. In combination, a cabinet having a compartment therein provided with an opening, a door mounted on said cabinet for movement with respect thereto normally closing the compartment opening, a food support slidably supported within said compartment, means connecting said food support to said door for movement thereby part Way out of said compartment through its opening upon moving the door open and back thereinto upon moving the door closed, said means comprising a linkage mechanism including a first link having its lower end pivotally secured to said cabinet adjacent the bottom front portion of said compartment, a second link, a third link having one end thereof pivotally secured to the rear portion of said food support above said lower end of said first link, the ends of said second link being pivotally attached to the end of said first and said third links opposite the ends thereof secured to said cabinet and said food support respectively, and means pivotally anchoring a portion of said second link intermediate its said ends to said door whereby movements of the door are converted by said linkage mechanism into forces acting on said food support to cause the sliding thereof.

5. In combination, a cabinet having an insulated food storage compartment therein provided with a front opening and a machine compartment beneath said food storage compartment, a one-piece door hingedly mounted on said cabinet below the bottom of said food storage compartment and within the plane of said machine compartment for vertical swinging movement normally closing the food storage compartment front opening, a food support slidably supported within said food storage compartment, a linkage mechanism connecting said food support to said door for movement therewith part way out of said food storage compartment through its front opening upon swinging said one-piece door open and back thereinto upon swinging said door closed, said mechanism comprising a first link having a portion thereof pivotally secured to said cabinet and another portion pivotally attaehed to an end of a second link, the opposite end of said second link being pivotally attached to an end of a third link having its other end pivotally secured to said food support, said second link being pivotally anchored intermediate its ends to said door at a point thereon spaced a predetermined distance from the inner face thereof, said links being movable by movement of said one-piece door and said second link being rotatable relative thereto to pass an end of the second link through the space between its anchorage point and said inner door face whereby said mechanism converts the vertical swinging motion of said door into a force applied to said food support substantially in a straight line horizontal direction throughout the entire length of sliding movements of the food support.

6. The combination defined by claim 5 wherein means is provided for limiting sliding of the food support outwardly of the food storage compartment to stop vertical opening swinging movement of the door whereby the linkage mechanism supports said door in a predetermined inclined open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,455,182 Vallee Nov. 30, 1948 2,613,123 Patten Oct. 7, 1952 2,724,629 Atchison Nov. 22, 1955 2,800,381 Lewis July 23, 1957 2,836,968 Ferris June 3, 1958 

